Keeping the truck secure

Interesting topic. In the past 20 months I don't think I've ever seen anyone ask this question. Green dots to you.

To secure a dropped trailer, most people use a kingpin lock.



This device locks itself around the kingpin under the trailer so that the locking jaws of a fifth wheel won't be able to fit around the kingpin.

Another alternative for securing a dropped trailer is a glad hand lock.



This device blocks access to the glad hand on the trailer so that the brakes won't release.

Neither of these devices are 100% fail safe, but they do offer a determent of sorts.

For securing the tractor, they make a steering column lock.



Pretty self explanatory. This lock is most easily applied from under the hood.

Some of the big companies give out kits that have all or some of these devices. One such company (Marten Transport) will terminate an employee if it's found out that a driver is not using any of the theft deterrent devices.

 

just to add. i found this out not long ago, if your trailer has a seal on it and it is broken into, it becomes a FEDERAL offense. FYI

 

We used Glad Hand locks where I used to work.
The ones we had were crap.

I remember one occasion were a guy dropped his on the floor and it broke.
And another time some guy left, but forgot to remove his lock, so we had to break it off, it took us about 5 mins to break the lock off.

So unless they make different kinds maybe steel reinforced ones (Glad Hand Locks) or something, then they are useless if somebody wants THAT trailer.

 

Yeah, those glad hand locks are pretty weak.

Like I said, nothing is 100% fail safe.

 

Glad hand locks are mainly used at the dock for safety purposes. It makes some of the dock hands feel a little more secure that you can't pull out from under them while they are loading/unloading. Easiest way to get around them is to replace the trailer glad hand.

King pin locks can be broken. But it takes a little time and makes a little noise, something that most crooks don't want to happen.

 

Very informative post Scarecrow, thanks!

 

Do reefers have in-cab alarms to alert a driver if someone tampers with his/her cooling unit during berth time? I think I remember reading here on the forum that sometimes other drivers will shut down another's reefer unit during the night because the cycling interrupts their sleep... and I would imagine that could be costly if it happens early in the break during hot weather...?

 

I've never used anything like this, however I believe there's an available link between the reefer unit and a Qualcomm that would notify not only the driver, but those at the corporate office aware of reefer temps and any temperature changes.

I only pulled reefers for KLLM and they didn't have this link up.